Work Text:
The town seemed to be abandoned, but either the survivors who had lived here or people passing through after had stripped what they could before they left. The pack had visited three of the town’s four gas stations before they found any fuel.
Johnny had been teaching Max a card game, but he put down the cards and picked up a gun as the others headed into the gas station. He and Isaac watched the door. Just because the town seemed empty of everyone but them didn’t mean it actually was.
Max had been with the pack for a couple of weeks now, and they were finally relaxing around him, but he hadn’t earned his gun back yet. He was starting to pull his weight, now that he was getting stronger, but he still felt a little useless at times like this. They’d told him this was OK, but he still fidgeted while he waited.
Found some ramen, and they had notepads and pens. Wes and Logan climbed back into the RV, each carrying a plastic sack stuffed with packets of dried noodles. Logan waved a little at Max and held up a pack of brightly colored Post-Its.
Max gave a thumbs up and a shy smile, though he still couldn’t quite bring himself to make eye contact with the alpha.
We saw a library about a block back. Wes gestured back the way they’d come, and Isaac perked up. We’re going to go check it out, if you guys agree.
Johnny moved over to the table where Max was sitting as Isaac talked to the other two, and gestured to Max’s notebook. Max slid it over, and watched as Johnny wrote.
Do you like books?
Max blinked, then shrugged, after a moment. Johnny wrote again.
There’s a library near here, some of us want to see if they have anything. Y/N?
Max looked at Isaac, talking animatedly to Wes and Logan. He could smell hints of excitement from the others. He took the pencil and circled the Y.
Johnny went back over to the others. Max and I both think we should.
It’s unanimous, then. Isaac grinned. Get me some good science fiction.
When they got back to the library, there was some chatter, and then Logan and Wes went in alone. They hadn’t run across anyone in the town yet, but Nick and Pete took up guard positions outside the RV anyway.
Isaac helped Max stow the food and supplies from the gas station in the RV’s cabinets, then nudged him to sit at the table. He pulled over the pack notebook, and tapped Johnny’s question, about liking books. Max shrugged. Isaac nudged the notebook toward him.
I haven’t read much, Max wrote, then shrugged at him, too. He hadn’t ever really had the chance, after he was sold away from his birth pack.
Oh no, baby boy, we’re going to have to fix that. Isaac got up and opened up a cupboard. It was one of the few spaces on the RV not devoted to supplies, and held some old photos and sentimental items, including apparently a couple of paperback books. He passed one called “The Wounded Sky” over to Max, who hesitated for a moment, then carefully took it.
He was still reading the back when Wes and Logan got back. It sounded confusing, but he was willing to try it.
Nick and Pete followed them into the RV, Nick moving for the driver’s seat. Oh, don’t get him started on your Spirk obsession.
How dare you. First of all, that’s a classic, and second, just because they’re on the cover doesn’t make it Spirk. Max glanced at them out of the corner of his eye, but based on their scents, decided they were teasing each other and not actually arguing.
Wes passed over a stack of paperbacks to Isaac.
Ooh, good haul, I love this one. Haven’t read this one. Johnny, you’ll like- Oh. Isaac handed two books to Pete. What do you think?
Pete examined the books. I don’t know if it’ll help him or not. Aphasia patients could learn, but I’m not sure if the virus affects the same areas.
He can read and write, so maybe? Johnny shifted on the bench. Is it more like writing or talking?
Max felt attention on him, and looked up, his shoulders tensing.
Well, the cat’s out of the bag now, he knows we’re talking about him. Wes gestured for the notebook, and Max passed it over, his eyes darting between him and Pete and Isaac. After writing for a moment, Wes passed the notebook back, then held out the two books.
We got these for you, but it’s OK if it doesn’t work.
Max looked at the books, and for a moment, it felt like his lungs stopped working. One was “American Sign Language The Easy Way,” and the other was “The Pocket Dictionary of Signing.” He sat, frozen, staring at the books. They’d gotten those for him?
Shit, what if he’s tried before and it didn’t work?
Wes’ comment broke Max out of the spell, and he slowly reached for the dictionary. His hands were shaking, making it hard to turn the pages, but after a moment, he found what he was looking for. It helped that it was on one of the first pages.
Max hoped this wouldn’t be like when he tried to speak, how he thought he was saying one thing but it came out scrambled and slurred. He hoped they would be able to understand it.
He brought his hand to his chin, then moved it downward, first to Logan and then to Wes.
What does that mean?
Johnny leaned over his shoulder. It looks like ‘thank you.’ He pointed to the words “thank you” under the description and gave Max a questioning look. Max nodded frantically, making the sign again. Wes gave him a thumbs up, and he felt his eyes go blurry.
Isaac pulled him into a side hug, and Max relaxed against him as the RV began moving again. How are you so cute?
Wes and Pete slid into the other side of the booth, and Pete pulled over the second sign language book. Guess we all have a little learning to do. The notebooks are good, but this’ll be better if we run out of paper or pens. Faster too, probably.
He’s smart, he’ll pick it up fast. Nick said something from the front of the RV. Hopefully we can keep up.
Max pulled the dictionary closer and smiled, running his fingers carefully over the line drawings of each sign as he turned the pages. He’d been so worried he was making the wrong decision when he put his knife down and walked toward their campsite those weeks ago. He’d never expected them to go through this effort for him, or any effort at all, really. But they’d fed him and were keeping him safe and now they’d given him not one but two ways to talk to them. He would never be able to make this up to them. They’d told him they didn’t even want him to.
He smiled and signed “thank you” again.